February 27, 2004 Arts community a busy place to be

The following are various art shows in the Community Voices Area that will be of interest to art enthusiasts. 

The White Water Gallery at its new location at 147 Worthington St. E., North Bay has Erika James Sculptures on display until March 20.  The Gallery is open from 12-5 Wednesday to Friday, Saturday 12-4. 476-2444 www.whitewatergallery.com 

The Joan Ferneyhough Gallery at 157 First Ave. E., North Bay represents various outstanding artists from N.E. Ontario and has paintings, drawings, photographs and sculpture.  The March show is by Bruce Cull.  To see samples of his work log on to www.ferneyhoughgallery.com or drop in Tuesday to Thursday 11-5 or by appointment 476-1534. 

The W.K.P. Kennedy Gallery, North Bays public gallery located in the Capitol Centre features contemporary and historical art works.  A new art shop provides a wide variety of related items for sale. 

An exhibit of art by women called In Our Image: A Celebration of Women will run in the Main Gallery until March 5.  There will be a party on Friday March 5^th with a silent auction fundraiser to help various women’s and AIDS agencies. The Gallery is open Tuesday to Friday 11am-5pm, Saturday 12-4pm 474-1944 (231) www.kennedygallery.org 

A fascinating off-site W.K.P. Kennedy presentation called Ice Follies will take place from March 6-20 a half kilometer out on the ice west of the North Bay Government Dock.  Seven creatively altered ice huts will be on display.  Snow Bus Tours will take place on March 6 from 11-3pm.  Bring a camera. 

Art in Public Places in the Capitol Centre has monthly shows of local artists who are members of the North Bay Area Arts Council. 474-1944 (234). The March show is paintings by Eleanor Mackey. 

The North Bay Area Arts Council also has monthly Arts NOW evening on the 4^th Thursday each month in the Galaxy Circle Lounge from 5-7pm with food provided.  Non-members are welcome.  Clermont Duval was featured in January and the Ice Follies sculptors on Feb 26.  Photographer Paul Chivers will be presenting on March 25.  Paul took the photo of Clermont Duval for the Nugget during Clermont’s presentation in January. 

Wayne Long of Powassan chats with Liz Trolove after her lecture on Doris McCarthy at the Burk’s Falls Art and Crafts Club.  Doug Mackey photo.

The Burk’s Falls Art & Crafts Club has art classes, lectures, and exhibitions.  A recent lecture on Canadian landscape painter Doris McCarthy has led to a bus trip scheduled for March 10 to Toronto, picking up registrants from North Bay and along Hwy 11 on the way to see her 2004 show.  For information on the trip or on the club call club president Doreen White at 705-384-7654. 

The work of artists from the club can be seen in the summer in their Gallery above Food Town in Burk’s Falls and in various other venues yearround including The Wooden Roo, the Library, and Zambarias in Burk’s Falls, the Caswell Resort and the Royal Bank in Sundridge, the Library and Kawartha Credit Union in South River and the Windsor Hotel in Powassan. 

The new Powassan Library Gallery has regular exhibitions by local artists and guests including some who are active in the Burk’s Falls Club.  The Powassan Art Club meets Monday afternoons in the Library to paint and share.  The current exhibition which runs until March 20 is the work of Carole Dobbs.  Open during library hours, closed Wednesday and Sunday.  Phone 724-3618 for information. 

The Powassan Library will have art classes for students 8-14 during the March Break on Tuesday and Thursday from 1-4pm.  The class will be taught by Liz Lott who is running Saturday classes in North Bay.  The fee is $15 per session.  For registration or information visit or call the library at 724-3618. 

Renée’s Café in South River has fine food, fine music and fine art and is well worth the visit.  For example tonight February 27 from 7 to 11 everyone is invited to get together and celebrate the Roses are Red verses, and the Hearts and Flowers paintings.  A prize will be awarded to the best verse.  Then sit back and enjoy the music of Garry White, on jazz guitar, accompanied by Renée White on bass.  Call 386-0977 for dinner reservations, or more information.  If drawing is your media of expression, bring your drawings to the café by March 2 where they will be selected and hung by March 9 with an opening evening March 12.  Check their website at www.renees.net 

The West Nipissing Community Art Gallery in their Information Centre on Front Street in Sturgeon Falls has a new show called Solitude and Serenity.  Works by the Art Club and several children from the community are on display from 9-4pm Monday to Friday. 

The Clermont Duval Gallery in Mattawa at 313 Main Street is open daily and has a large collection of paintings and prints by Clermont and his son. 

Many of the locations above have well-designed and informative websites that provide excellent information for people wanting a touch of colour or more.  A generic website for art and other creative endeavors that is highly informative is www.incard.ca 

Looking ahead Restoule and Commanda are venturing into the art scene from July 16 to 18 when a new shop in Restoule called Sunlight and Shadows and the Commanda General Store Museum will have a joint show and sale at both locations at the same time.  Any artist can display work with a small percentage of the sale going to the sponsors.  There will also be weekly art displays at Sunlight and Shadows during July and August.  For further information call Roberta O’Quinn 705-729-5174 at the museum or Sharyn Gagne at 705-729-5174 at Sunlight and Shadows.